Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule issued a stark warning on Monday to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), cautioning that any shutdown of the Dangote Refinery due to ongoing labor disputes would invite global ridicule and jeopardize Nigeria's economic progress.
Describing the $19 billion facility as a "national asset," Sule called for immediate dialogue between the union, refinery management, and the federal government to avert a crisis that could undermine the country's energy security.
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today program, Sule highlighted the refinery's pivotal role in reducing Nigeria's reliance on fuel imports and stabilizing petroleum supplies.
"The world will laugh at us if Dangote Refinery shuts down," he stated emphatically, emphasizing that the facility—Africa's largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day—has already spared the nation billions in import costs and addressed longstanding challenges in fertilizer and petrochemical production.
"It’s not for Dangote alone; it’s for Nigeria as a whole," Sule added, appealing for resolution without resorting to courts, as the parties must collaborate long-term.
The governor attributed the escalating tensions to a "gap in communication" between PENGASSAN and Dangote Petroleum Refinery, urging both sides to convene urgently.
He drew from his own experience managing a sugar refinery, noting that prolonged halts in operations could lead to irreversible damage, such as rusting pipes, which would harm everyone involved.
"It is not in Dangote’s interest to cause any commotion," Sule remarked, stressing that the refinery's success benefits the entire economy.
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